Minutes of the Greater
Peterborough Economic Development Group
Councillor Holdich Peterborough City Council
Councillor Thorpe Peterborough City Council
Roger Tallowin O & H Hampton Ltd
Hugh Cripps P.E.C.T
Nick Upton Cambridgeshire Chamber of Commerce
Peter Smith APV Baker
Boyd Mulvey Create Partners
Karen Bartlett East of England Development Agency
Phil Sheppard UK Ceed
Richard Astle Interim GPP Director
David Nicholls Business Link for Cambridgeshire
Bill Agnew GPIA
Liz Wade PCC - Economic & Community Regeneration
Neil
Darwin PCC
- Economic & Community Regeneration
Ed Zerafa PCC - Economic & Community Regeneration
Anne
Hughes Peterborough
City Council (Chief Executives
Department)
1. Apologies for Absence
Apologies for absence were received from Carolyn Hume, Sue Churchill and Nick Plumb.
2. Welcome
The Chairman welcomed people to the meeting and in particular Richard Turner, Roger Tallowin and Councillor Thorpe who were attending for the first time. Richard and Roger were representing the private sector.
3. Minutes of last meeting
We accepted as a correct record the minutes of our meeting held on 16 December 2003.
4. Matters Arising
We noted a few applications were still awaiting further information but would be completed before the plan was presented to EEDA in February.
5. Create - East of England Fund
We welcomed Boyd Mulvey to the meeting who had started the company which now had a world-wide network and who were responsible for the East of England Fund. Boyd introduced the new East of England fund. The group discussed the uses for the fund and agreed to promote the fund to possible beneficiaries. A copy of the presentation is attached to the minutes.
6. Increasing Private Sector representatives on E.D.G
We were advised that we were trying to increase the numbers of the group from the private sector. The areas we have identified as not having representatives from:-
i) Fenland
ii) Finance Services
iii) Property
iv) Professional Services
v) Transport and Distribution
vi) Housing Partnership
All partnerships should have more accountability to their group representatives, we also need participation of a broader group.
7. Community Strategy - EDG input
We noted a template had been devised for all partnerships to complete identifying their priorities and targets by the 11 February. The Community Strategy was originally produced in 2001 but had moved on somewhat since then.
The GPP Forum would be held on the 4 March and it was hoped that our priorities would be launched at this forum.
8. Development of Economic Development Strategy
We also noted a template had been devised for the Economic Development Strategy. Three priorities had been identified, achieving growth, supporting people and developing a stronger infrastructure. We must identify goals and targets looking at the EEDA balance scorecard system.
What we must look at is what is out there that was not 2/3 years ago, i.e Broadband. We need to look at what we have achieved this year and what we want to achieve next year. Concern was expressed about the short time allowed for consultation with people, we were advised that the document would not be set in stone and could be developed during the year. Questions were also asked about how the strategy was resourced and in the document it was not clear what was sustainable growth.
Action
We asked for volunteers to assist with the process with the existing people who were involved.
9. Regional Planning Issues
A letter had been received from Jeff Brooker from the ODPM office advising that the growth corridor was to be extended to include Cambridge sub-region and Peterborough. This was great news as we had challenged the government on this matter and they had reconsidered. Officers were now working with the Regional Assembly on the proposals, looking at the sub-regional study and measuring what the potential was for growth. The expressions of interest has to be in by the end of the month and presented in a sustainable form.
High income jobs have not been catered for previously in Peterborough and perhaps this could be included in future proposals. EEDA are supporting the University project and the news is very positive that the scheme will go forward.
Action
A discussion ensued about Broadband and the attitude of BT. Karen said EEDA have a website on this and would make some enquiries for the next meeting. Whether Broadband was in Peterborough could have an affect on some companies moving to the area.
10. Development of the EEDA Business Plan 2004/2005
We noted that all the bids had gone through the first stage of appraisal and would be e-mailed to the group shortly. Fenland applications had been deferred at our last meeting but would come back in due course.
The bids would have to be with Karen by the 14 February 2004.
11. Dates of Future Meetings
We agreed to hold the next meeting on Tuesday 24 February 2004 at 4.30. All our meetings in future would be held on the last Tuesday of every month:-
Tuesday 30 March at 4.30pm Vinnitsa Room, Town Hall.
Tuesday 27 April at 4.30pm Bourges Room, Town Hall.
Tuesday 25 May at 4.30pm Bourges Room, Town Hall.
The meeting having commenced at 4.30 concluded at 6.30pm.